Faults Aren’t Final

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:8-12)
 
When you read the passage above, it’s easy to look at Abraham as a shining example of faith and obedience. But let’s not forgot the other accounts of Abraham’s life in Genesis that tell us of all of his struggles and mistakes, too. Abraham was far from perfect. But even still, God never gave up on him. His faults were not final. The mistakes he made as a father, as a husband, and as a leader did not disqualify him from being used by God, and they did not nullify God’s promise over his life.  
 
Abraham’s life is a great example and reminder that our mistakes do not disqualify us from being used by God. Sure, Abraham’s sins may have required repentance, required seeking the face of God, and required a season of growth and maturity, but it did not stop him from pursing God’s plan and purpose for his life. If anything, God used the mistakes and the mishaps to grow and develop Abraham as His follower.
 
I hope you are encouraged by this truth today. Even though you aren’t perfect, even though you will make parenting mistakes, marriage mistakes, friendship mistakes, professional mistakes, and every other kind of mistake, God can still use you. Just like a good Father, he loves us beyond our limitations. He loves us in spite of our shortcomings. He loves us despite how we fail Him. His love is abundant, unfailing, and unyielding. His love never fails and never runs out.